“It is unfortunate that despite being an MP I have to obtain a visa to enter my country’s own territory,” said Bangladeshi Member of Parliament Nazmul Haque Pradhan who visited Poaturkuthi, a Bangladeshi enclave located in West Bengal’s Coochbehar district, on Thursday.
Mr. Haque is the first MP from both India and Bangladesh to visit his/her country's enclave located in the neighbouring country's territory. While 111 Indian enclaves are located deep inside four districts of Bangladesh, 51 enclaves of Bangladesh are located in West Bengal’s Coochbehar district.
“Today is one of best moments of my life because I could reach people living in Stateless condition for decades,” the MP told The Hindu .
My constituency Panchagarh-I is next to West Bengal Jalpaiguri district but this is the first time I am visiting this enclave on an invite of Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee, he said.
